Gaddafi’s son Saif, Libya’s former heir apparent, released – lawyer

Saif al-Islam was reportedly released in April by his Libyan captors despite being sentenced to death by a court in 2015

The most prominent son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi appears to have been released from prison, according to reports on Wednesday.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was sentenced to death by firing squad last year, and he has been widely reported as imprisoned in the western Libyan town of Zintan.

However, on Wednesday, Gaddafi’s lawyer Karim Khan told France 24 that his client was in fact released on 12 April and is “well and safe in Libya”.

Khan, who was appointed as Gaddafi’s lawyer on 27 June, said his client was released as part of an amnesty passed last year by the House of Representatives, which was Libya’s internationally recognised government until the UN-backed Government of National Accord took charge earlier this year.

Gaddafi’s current whereabouts are unknown and his lawyer did not say whether he has spoken to his client since the reported release.

A document shared on Twitter and purportedly from Libya’s justice ministry stated that he was released after appeals from senior members of the Gaddafi tribe.

However, the document’s authenticity has not been confirmed and it is signed “hahaha” in Arabic.